Saturday 25 December 2021

KEEP THE DISCIPLINE



I was thinking this morning.... Wow! It's another Christmas, meaning it's less than a week to a new year. Have you achieved your goals for this year or did you fall short? Can the umpire of life raise your hand that you actually won or like we say in Warri, did you fall your hand?


In 2019, one Inetimi Timaya Odon better known by his stage name Timaya, released a song titled 'I can't kill myself.' For those not familiar with the song, the chorus goes 'This life I can't kill myself, I can't kill myself, ohh I can't kill myself, Allow me to flex, oh'. In the streets, the notion was 'pidginised' to become 'I can't comma kee myself.' This song has today become one of the most negative influences on Nigerians and is at the root of what I refer to as the 'Timaya Mentality (TM).'

You started this year with a vow to embrace a healthy lifestyle. You promised to eat healthy and exercise more. You started well, avoided your favourite kponmo and borokotor and was walking an hour daily. Two months down the line, you started slowing down and by May, you looked around and said 'I can't comma kee myself,' and you went back to your old habits. Sorry, you are a victim of the 'Timaya mentality (TM).'

Many promised to be more spiritual this year. Few months down the line, they were face to face with their Achilles heels, which for some is a cold bottle of beer and others the urge to gossip. They thought for a moment, capitulated and said 'I can't comma kee myself.' Chai! They are now slaves to the Timaya mentality.

Many have been nothing but financially reckless and were at some point happy to join the Timaya choir to sing the chorus 'This life I can't kill myself o. Allow me to flex o.' They have flexed and now the year is ending with nothing to show for it.

2021 ends in 5 days and many are dying because they just couldn't hold themselves to higher standards of self discipline. Please don't kill yourself, just be self-disciplined so you can achieve greatness in the new year. 2nd Timothy 1:7 says 'For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.'  Whatever good you've started to do just keep the discipline.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Merry Christmas.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 18 December 2021

PLEASE DON’T BREAK THE PEN

 


I was thinking this morning..... It's 12 days to the end of 2021 and many wise persons are currently retrospecting on the year and introspecting on what they can do differently. Though I have a magistrate in my immediate family, I've never been in a court room all my life and never knew until recently that judges break the tip or nib of their pen after sentencing an individual to death. Wow!

My sister never told me about this practice, maybe because she has never sentenced anyone to death. 'Why would judges break the pen?' I wondered. I found out two reasons why. One being that judges symbolically break the nib of their pen after sentencing a man to death so that the pen which is used to sign a person's life away will not be used to do that ever again. Another reason is that after writing or signing the death sentence, the judges have no power to review or revoke the judgement he has passed. Wow!

As I reflected on both reasons, I thought about 2021 and how so many have sentenced their offenders to emotional and psychological death. How? You may wonder. You had a bestie who offended you and you swore never to forgive nor speak to that person again. As far as you are concerned, that person is dead to you. You did not only sentence the person, you broke the pen.

There are some whom their parents had treated so badly and they are so hurt. They cut ties with their parents and assume them dead.

With six days to Christmas and twelve days to a new year, I beg you, do not break the pen used in signing the sentence you passed on your parents, siblings or friends because you were offended. Rather, review and revoke the judgement and start 2022 on a clean slate. Hebrews 8:12 'For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday and merry Christmasis advance.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 11 December 2021

THIS IS MAGICAL

 


I was thinking this morning..... about the magic of nature. With 19 days to year end, no doubt 2021 has been very stressful for many. While many may be suffering from 'Zoom fatigue' with the marathon online meetings that have become their life, others are just worn out physically. For me, the burial I attended at Akure last weekend afforded me an opportunity for a 'staycation' since Covid restrictions are preventing vacations.

Our day started when we took a short ride (about 24km) from Akure to the ancient town of Idanre, location of the famous Idanre hills. The sheer sight of hills on both sides of the road as we entered the town gave away how beautiful and breathtaking nature could be. No wonder, the son of Oduduwa that first discovered the magnificent range of hills was provoked to exclaim 'Idan ree!', meaning 'This is magic' in yoruba.

To kick start our adventure, we started at 'Ibi Akasu' at the base of the hill and climbed 682 steps to the top with 5 resting points. At the peak of the hill standing at about 3000 feet above sea level, the view of the new town was just stunning. As I stood with hands akimbo looking at the ancient town below, like Oduduwa's son, I shouted 'Idan ree!'.

At the top, we visited the Old Primary School, Igbo Ore elementary primary school built in 1896, and the first customary court built in 1906. When I saw how the hills were elaborately designed with one mimicking the face of a chimpanzee and others neatly arranged on each other, I asked 'who arranged these rocks?' With no response, I bellowed 'Idan ree!'.

Truly Idanre hills is not for the faint hearted. During the adventure, our tour guide gave us a simple instruction not to look back while ascending nor look up when descending. One of us made light the instructions and looked up on our way downhill. The view was so frightening that she froze and became a pillar, but this time not of salt like Lot's wife. When we finally got downhill, we laughed and my young wife said, 'now I understand why Lot's wife became a pillar of salt when she did not obey a simple instruction not to look back.'

The four hours we spent at Idanre hills was very soothing confirming the saying that nature is the antidote to fatigue and stress. Interact with nature by smelling a flower, listen to birds sing or go hiking because Psalm 147:8-9 says 'He covers the heavens with clouds; prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.' In this season, if you can't afford a vacation, go for a staycation and if that is not possible, then try a 'solocation.' Whatever it is, find time to unwind and rest from all the stress.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 4 December 2021

YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND


I was thinking this morning..... in that Lipton Tea advert, Ade, the carpenter dad was seen telling his son, Shola to come help him with the woodwork but Shola told him he was more interested in drawing. The frustrated father asked 'how are you going to be part of the business if you don't learn?' and his son responded 'you just don't understand.'


That was my situation as I sat at the Service of Songs for the mother of a brother and friend at Akure days ago. Though I had the hymnal booklet raised, I can see the letters and words as written, yet I couldn’t understand what they meant, because it was written in yoruba. When the priest stood up to speak, I leaned forward hoping that finally I will flow with the event, but to my surprise, sound was made which I couldn't understand. Why is that so? Again, he was speaking yoruba and I just don't understand.

You can listen and hear and still don't understand. When your 6 months old child speaks incomprehensible words sometimes in the midst of sobs, some will say the child is speaking gibberish. No, they are not. We just don't understand.

The world is in a terrible mess today because we just don't understand ourselves. If you are married and treat your spouse badly, you just don't understand that you are hindering your prayers. Many parents still don't understand their children. Your child is home with you but withdrawn. He hardly speaks to anyone and only enjoys the company of himself. You think he is quiet? No! You just don't understand. Probe deeper to know why. The Dowen College, Lekki incident should teach you a lesson.

Seeking to understand is a much more greater virtue than listening. Stephen Covey defines this as the fifth habit in his bestselling book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." It's critical: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

If you are married, strive to understand your spouse, because it could save your marriage. If you are a parent, seek to understand your children. Prov 4:7b says 'With all thy getting, get understanding.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 27 November 2021

TIME BILLIONAIRES


I was thinking this morning..... about being a billionaire. When we hear that someone is a billionaire, what comes to mind is dollars and naira (for those of us in Nigeria). Nigerian singer, Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni had in 2019 released her buzzing single titled 'Billionaire.' In the chorus, she said 'I wanna be a billionaire. Billionaire, yeah yeah.'


Yes, we all want to be billionaires, but what many don't realise is that almost everyone is born a billionaire. If you are thinking dollar and naira again, then listen. Last week I came across the concept of 'Time billionaire'. One billion seconds is equal to 31.7 years, so if you are over 32 years of age, that means you were born a 'time billionaire'. Teni was born 23 December 1992, meaning she will be 29 years in less than 4 weeks from today. According to statistics, the average human lives for 79 years, meaning Teni has at least a decent 50 years (about 1.6 billion seconds) more on earth. Teni currently is a multi-time billionaire, yet she was praying to be a billionaire.

I won't blame her because society values dollar billionaires more than time billionaires. We overvalue dollar billionaires and undervalue time billionaires. Truth is, time is the most precious asset in the world.

Just over a week ago, Sani Dangote, the younger brother to the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, and Vice president of Dangote Group, died after a brief illness in one of the best hospitals in the United States. At the time of his death, he was a naira or even dollar billionaire, but he wasn't a time billionaire. He ran out of time. Warren Buffett is a dollar billionaire with net worth of about $105 billion, but  he is not a time billionaire (he is 91 years old). Being a dollar billionaire cannot translate to time billionaire because you can't buy more time. But your time can bring you billions of dollars if used productively. Everybody has equal amount of time in a day. No one can re-acquire time once it is gone.

As a time billionaire, how do you spend your time? It is estimated that on the average we spend 26 years of our lives sleeping, 13 years working, 8.3 years watching TV, 3 years on social media etc. Ask yourself, if your 1 billion seconds is equivalent to 1 billion dollars, will you spend it frivolously?

If you were a time billionaire and you blew your billions, do not despair. You can still enjoy the millions left by spending wisely. Don't waste your time doing something you hate. Make time for God, family and friends. Psalms 90:12 says 'Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 20 November 2021

THE TRUE FRIENDSHIP CHALLENGE

 


I was thinking this morning..... Top Nigerian celebrity and Afrobeat singer David Adeleke best known as Davido has been the topic of discussion on social media in the last few days after he challenged his friends to each send one million naira to his account for the celebration of his forthcoming 29th birthday and to clear his Rolls Royce from the port. The singer said the move was to know who his true friends are. It was reported that he raised N150m in less than 24 hours after posting his bank account details on his Instagram page.

Wow! So friends can do this? As at today, I have 2,883 friends on Facebook alone. I thought about jumping on the 'True Friendship Challenge' and request all my friends to send N1m into my account to celebrate International Men's Day. If I don't receive at least N2 billion in 24 hours, then I would've known that you all are not true friends. I was about to click send when a friend replied on his Facebook page saying 'If nor be say my friends never receive salary, wetin be N100 million wey we no go raise in 1 hour? Rubbish.' At this point, my brain had a reset.

As I smiled, I remembered a story I read recently. A retiree after 30 years of teaching fell ill and needed surgery that was to cost N7m. Unfortunately, his pension had been 'Maina'ed' and help from family had frozen in Calgary snow. He died shortly after. Oh if he knew, he could have asked his friends for N1m each, so he would know if they were true friends. He died without help.

People die in Nigeria daily because they lack as little as N1,000 either for food or medicine. Where are their true friends? Yet someone raised N150m in a day in the 'True friends challenge.' Truth is, true friendship cannot be determined by how much people give to you in your days of abundance and power, rather it is how much they give to you in your days of lack. True friendship is not about the quantity of friends you have but the quality of friends. It's not about who's real to your face but about those who stay loyal behind your back.

This is to let my true friends know that I appreciate them even without them sending a million naira to me. Proverbs 18:24 says 'A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 13 November 2021

THE CHAMPAGNE GENERATION

 


I was thinking this morning..... I was in Abuja last week after almost 2 years, no thanks to Covid. I got in touch with my former classmate from Hussey College Warri that lives in Abuja just to catch up. Coincidentally, four other of our classmates, two from the US, were in town and we decided meet in the evening for what is now known within our group as 'Fishy tinz.'

The last time I met four of them was over 30 years ago, so it was a nostalgic reunion. After ordering for my Amstel Malta and fish, I went about catching up on old times. Just then a young man walked in and sat alone at the table behind us. Minutes later, he was served a cold bottle of Moet and Chandon Rose Imperial champagne. I couldn't help but wonder why someone will leave his house to casually drink champagne. Could it be that he was privately celebrating something? His demeanour definitely did not so indicate.

Within an hour, the young man in his quiet corner gulped down the content of the bottle of Moet, which by the way cost about N40,000 a bottle. As I kept peeping at him through the side of my eyes, my mind was deep in thoughts. Moet & Chandon is not just a big champagne brand in the world, it is one of the most premium brands in Nigeria market.

According to a recent report, Shoprite mall in Nigeria sold more champagne than the 600 outlets in South Africa. That is a proof of how much Nigerians value the luxury drink. Recently, the global ambassador of Moet and Chandon, Pierre-Louis Araud paid a visit to Nigeria. In an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Araud revealed that Nigeria was the popular brand’s biggest market.

Having had a first hand experience of how champagne is no longer a celebratory drink in Nigeria but now the 'Coke and Fanta' of rich and famous, I concluded that truly this is 'The Champagne Generation (TCG)'. The generation where a politician will rather use $2 million to buy and drink a bottle of 2013 Taste of Diamonds champagne than to tar the roads in his community. Welcome to The Champagne Generation where people will borrow money to celebrate their birthday and serve 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah valued at $49,000 a bottle. Nigerians drink champagne so much that 'champagne gold' has become a colour in our lexicon.

Wow! The Champagne Generation. What they don't realise is that drinking a $2m champagne will not make one a champion. At best it satisfies your desire for the moment. Go for value. Put the money to better use and you become part of The Champion Generation that gives rather than consumes. Ephesians 5:18 says "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 6 November 2021

TIME HUMBLES

 


I was thinking this morning..... it's almost 18 years since I walked out of the SPDC sprawling residential estate turned office complex at Edjeba, Warri. The complex back then was a bustling facility, with well kept lawns, buildings well maintained and communication board up to date. Due to security challenges, the Company had relocated from Warri in 2013. A move many youths and deltans thought was impossible because of the sheer size of their assets. Eight years later, the rest is history.

Last week I visited Warri and lodged in a section of the estate now being used guesthouses by its new owner. As I took a walk around the balkanized estate, I was nostalgic about the good old days but was disappointed to see that things were falling apart in some sections. It came to a head for me when I saw the Safety Performance Board that was once an indicator of the health of the company, showing 'As At 2007.'


As I drove past what used to be the SPDC Main Office, the best office complex in Warri in the 90s, I observed it's been abandoned and overtaken by grasses. Who would've thought that the glorious SPDC main complexes could become shadows of themselves with time? Time humbles and sometimes crumbles. But wait a minute. Why do some rich and powerful today behave like they own the world? Why are some behaving like they live outside of time? If you are proud but can think on this, you should take dressing and lower your shoulder. It doesn't matter how beautiful, elegant and sprightly someone is today, it is a matter of time before he or she becomes old, weak, bent over and wrinkled. Time humbles, tumbles and sometimes crumbles people.

I saw this quote whose author I do not know that nicely caps my thoughts. It says 'As our days are thinning, our strength withering, our beauty fading, our texture wrinkling, our hair greying, our appetite waning, our sight diminishing, our world tempting, our graves waiting, our sins heaping, let’s PAUSE, REFLECT and GET CLOSER to the creator.' 1st John 2:17 says 'The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 30 October 2021

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS

 


I was thinking this morning..... about the Benjamins. No, I am not talking about the Benji you know. I was having a casual conversation with a fellow Waffarian days ago about how tough it has become for breadwinners to meet their obligations and how it is now imperative to do everything legally possible to earn more money. As we wrapped up, my friend said 'It's all about the Benjamins' like they say in Warri.' 'Who are the Bejamins?' I asked ignorantly. He giggled and said 'it means it's all about the money.'

Warri! Warri!! Warri!!! I hailed. When I got home, I consulted Google to understand the origin of the phrase. I found out that 'It’s all about the Benjamins' is an american expression which means “it’s all about money” coined from the portrait of Benjamin Franklin seen on the $100 bill, the highest US currency denomination.

But why would waffi people be using an expression that is based on the US dollar? Why can't they rather say 'it's all about Mai-Bornu and Isong,' whose faces are on the highest denomination of Nigeria currency, the N1000 note? While Mallam Aliyu Mai-Bornu was the first indigenous governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Clement Isong was his successor. I was almost given to the idea of 'It's all about Mai-Bornu and Isong' but when I remembered that $1 is worth over N550, I aligned with my waffi brothers that 'It’s all about the Benjamins.'

I still had doubts whether we should not change the narrative to being about Mai-Bornu and Isong when I ran into a former colleague. When I asked how he was doing at work, he responded that he resigned. 'Why on earth would you do that?' I asked in disbelief. He smiled and told me that he got a new job where he is being paid in dollars. In the voice of my mum, I could hear myself saying 'Obajor' translated  'no wonder' in Itsekiri. Would you blame him for abandoning Mai-Bornu and Isong for the Benjamins? $10k monthly salary amounts to almost N6m per month. Where in Naija will you earn N6m per month? Truly, it's all about the Benjamins.

Yesterday at the NLNG sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature, when Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia novel 'The Son of the House' was announced as winner, her joy knew no bound. She was happy with the prestige the award brings but when I looked at her face when the dummy cheque of $100,000 was presented to her, I knew 'It's all about the Benjamins.'

In Nigeria of today, it's a major challenge to stack up 'Mai-Bornu and Isong' and even more so the Benjamins. But Deuteronomy 33:12 says 'About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him.' It is on this basis that I am confident that it doesn’t matter what I am up against, God no go shame me because I am resting secured in Him and not on the Benjamins.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 23 October 2021

FREE YOUR NECK



I was thinking this morning.... about necklaces. Do you know that there are different types of necklaces in the world?


To the rich and famous, the mention of necklace will remind them of L’Incomparable. Boasting a rose gold setting, 90 white diamonds and one of the largest internally flawless yellow gemstones ever seen, L’Incomparable is the most expensive necklace in the world, and it can be yours for a hefty US $60 million.

To the mob and those we call 'Jaguda' or 'Boma' in Warri, necklace is the rubber tyre filled with petrol they put around a victim's chest and arms, when they want to carry out extra-judicial executions.This is one necklace no one should wear.

Last week, when I read the story of how an elk (of the deer family) in Colorado USA was freed from a car tyre stuck around its neck for two years, it dawned on me that some necklaces may be worn inadvertently. It is believed that the animal may have worn this 'tyre necklace' while trying to reach for food to survive by putting its head in a tall stack of tyres left abandoned somewhere and picked one up by accident. The poor animal moved around with the 16kg weight on its neck for two years. Wow!

As I thought about it, I observed a parallel with many. The economy collapsed, things got tough and prices of food shot up including beans, ordinary beans (can you imagine?). In order to survive, many have gone borrowing, not realising that debt is like a tyre necklace. It is heavy, ugly and uncomfortable.

There are others who their survival instincts drove to join a cult group. Now, they are stuck with a tyre necklace weighing down their necks. Man must wack, man must survive, I know but a tyre necklace is too expensive a price to pay. It only takes a small fire from a match stick to light up the tyre and consume your life. If you must wear an expensive necklace, please wear L’Incomparable.

Like the elk, please get restless and break that yoke, the tyre necklace, from your neck (Genesis 27:40).

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Sunday 17 October 2021

BESTIE SYNDROME

 



I was thinking this morning...... about the 'Bestie Syndrome'. I am sure many of you are wondering what this is. By definition,  'Bestie' means best friend or BFF. We call it 'pally' or paddy-paddy in Warri. A syndrome on the other hand is a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. The 'Bestie Syndrome' is a psychosocial disease that makes a man to drop his guard when with someone he regards as his best friend.


A man's bestie can be from his social circle, office, religious group or even his family. Some of the symptoms of 'Bestie Syndrome' include unbridled trust, revealing your secrets and never judging. It's a lovely thing to have a bestie but a dangerous thing to suffer from 'Bestie Syndrome.'

Days ago, news broke of a guy that went out with his bestie to an eatery at a mall. Mid way, he left his drink he had ordered to go use the washroom. As he left, his bestie was seen poisoning the drink. A good Samaritan observed it and told the lucky guy not to drink from it. The bestie was then asked to drink from the same drink he had poisoned, he refused and started begging for forgiveness. Why would the friend leave his drink in the company of another? It is because he trust him as his bestie. He almost died not because he had a bestie but because he was suffering from 'Bestie Syndrome.'

In September 2021, news broke of a young Nigerian, Toritseju Emmanuel Jackson, a law graduate of Buckingham University UK, that had returned to Nigeria for the mandatory one year call to bar programme at Law School. Toritseju was found stabbed to death by yet to be identified persons in the early hours of Sunday, September 12, 2021, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, after he was lured out by his friend. Why would Toritseju step out of his home that night to the location where he was murdered? It was because someone he trusted, a bestie, had invited him. He did not die because he had a bestie, he died because he suffered from 'Bestie Syndrome.'

It is great to have a bestie but please look at everyone with 'gbejoro eye,' meaning everyone is a suspect until proven otherwise. Do not be careless with your life because the hustle is real. The rat race we are in can make people do anything to anyone. I can understand the motive when someone kills his brother because he wants to inherit his property, but will never understand why people kill their besties knowing fully well they can't inherit their wealth, wife or years.

Hmm! After reading Psalms 41:9 that says 'Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me,' I understood that 'Bestie Syndrome' is a sibling of '419 disease' or 'Judas Effect.'

Do not let down your guard or be a victim of 'Bestie Syndrome.' God no go shame us.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 9 October 2021

THE FORK IN THE ROAD OF LIFE

 


I was thinking this morning.... as we commenced the departmental meeting last Wednesday, a colleague stepped up to give the Safety Moment. He narrated how the rain of Tuesday 21st September in Port-Harcourt had brought devastation his way. His home in one of top estates in the city had been completely flooded with water levels above his knees. His properties including his cars were badly damaged. As he narrated, I recalled that he lives on the same close with another colleague of ours. When I called this other colleague later to find out if he was affected, he said 'Thank God o! The water flooded every  house on the left of the close and some on the right but not mine.'

I was thinking, the two colleagues of mine were both transferred at the same time, both did their due diligence in searching out a safe and comfortable accommodation in the same estate and same close. Both are Christians and had prayed before settling in, yet when misfortune came, it hit one and spared the other. What made one deserving of misfortune and not the other?

As I pondered, I recalled a young friend of mine seeking to start his career as an engineer. He had opportunities from two promising organisations at a time and needed to make an informed choice. He went with the one that sent him abroad and ignore the other. Five years later, there was problem in the organisation he chose and he was sacked. Those that chose the other organisation are having the time of their lives. How could he have discerned the path to misfortune and avoided it?

We all at some point will find ourselves at a fork in the road of life and have to decide what path to take. How can one tell the path to misfortune so it can be avoided? While some will consult a prophet, the non-believer will want to look into the crystal ball. For many others, it is a Catch-22 situation, unable to choose which way to go. What I know is that no one will deliberately choose the path to misfortune.

To those on this path, it's not all bad news. Yes, we find it difficult to endure misfortunes that come our way. However, if you are able to stand firm and manage very well such misfortunes, they will surely become blessings in the end. With endurance and fortitude, no matter how frightening the misfortune may be, one can overcome it; turning it into a blessing in the end.

Whenever you find yourself at the fork in the road of life, remember Proverbs 3:5-6 that says 'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.


......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 2 October 2021

WHAT ABOUT OCTOBER 1ST?


I was thinking this morning...... Many years ago, an uncle told a story of the experience a young man had while being interviewed for a job position in the defunct Nigeria Airways. To test his knowledge of current affairs, he was asked, 'what happened in the year 1959?' expecting him to know that was when the new Nigerian currency was introduced. The young man responded, 'In 1959, my younger brother was born.' Surprised by his response, they followed up with a simpler question, 'what happened in the year 1960?' Surely, he must know that was when Nigeria gained independence, they thought. He shocked the panel when he answered, 'in 1960, my younger brother was 1year old.' As far as the young man was concerned, the birthday of his younger brother was of more significance than any national event.


That was my situation last Friday October 1st. As many talked about Nigeria 61st independence anniversary, I remembered the 22nd wedding anniversary of my brother and the 5th anniversary of our Benin Invasion when our friend Dagogo Buowari-Brown got married. These two events were more celebratory than the 61st independence anniversary of Nigeria. With standard of living decreasing and insecurity increasing, you will please excuse me if the 61st Independence celebration ranks very low in my 'Significance pecking order.'

China gained independence on 1st October 1949 meaning they are 11 years older than Nigeria. When I considered how much more developed China is compared to Nigeria, you will forgive me when I'd rather celebrate the wedding anniversaries of my brother and friend than our 61st Independence anniversary.

Last Friday October 1st, I visited my dad who is in his eighties, to spend time with him. That day also happened to be International Day of Older Persons, so please forgive me if Nigeria's 61st Independence anniversary did not make my thought list.

What influences the event you will celebrate is how much positive impact it makes on you. I have decided to fill my mind with positive thoughts and dispense with negative energies. Regressive politicis, hunger, death and gloom have become the regulars in our discourse about Nigeria and I am tired of bad report. I believe and hope in Nigeria but for now, I just want to fulfil Philippians 4:8 that says 'Finally, brethren... whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report...think on these things.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey 

Saturday 25 September 2021

HAVE YOU BEEN CANTABBED?

 


I was thinking this morning..... as I drove into the parking lot in front of the church auditorium last Sunday, I observed that our early bird pastor had not arrived. Having tried severally to beat him to early arrival, I was surprised that 15 mins before service he was not in church. When I called him to find out why he was running late and to gleefully announce that I had eventually beaten him to it, he laughed and said, you did not only beat me, you gave me 'cantab.'

Wow! It's been a lifetime since I heard the term 'cantab.' It was such a common word those days that I thought it was an English word. But when I asked Google, what I got was 'Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Kilon jebe? Cantab was a term we used while playing table tennis those days and it describes a situation when a player's score is double or more than double that of his opponent. A very good player will boast of cantabbing a weak player.

Our journey in life is somewhat like playing the game of table tennis. When we started, we all looked forward to being ahead of the curve, achieving our dreams and winning big. However, for many, mid way into life, it is not going as planned. If you dreamt of having a high paying job or a thriving business that makes you financially independent, but you are living from hand to mouth, you have been cantabbed by life.

Yes, many expected to have a lovely, peaceful family life, but ended up with the opposite. The spouse is a headache and having children, a prayer point. Some dreamt of studying and obtaining a PHD but life came hard at them very early and they ended without a degree. In summary, you can say life had cantabbed them.

The thing about being cantabbed is that it gives the person being beaten a sense of hopelessness even before the game comes to an end. Being cantabbed is a humiliation and usually no one comes back from a cantabbed situation to win a game. However, in 2005 during the World Championship in Shanghai, Danish Table tennis player Michael Maze came back from an impossible 'triple cantab' situation to beat Chinese player Hao Shuai.

So can you ever recover and win the game of life? Yes, it is possible. Life may be cantabbing you for now, but keep hope alive because the game is yours to lose. Romans 4:18 'Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations.' You can turn the cantab around.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 18 September 2021

DEATH IN THE POT

 


I was thinking this morning...... Returning from Church one Sunday morning, I was desirous of having fruit salad. On getting to the fruit shed at the junction of my street, I noticed something bizarre. I observed the 'aboki' trader pour some sachet detergent into a bowl of water, stirred it to foam and then started dipping the pawpaw and pineapple in and washing them like a piece of dirty shoe. In my shocked state, my head spurn as my thoughts screamed.

Then I recalled the incident of 26th August in Umueze, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, where seven members of the same family died after eating the popular barbecue known as suya, with an undisclosed brand of juice drink. Ahh! What's going on?

As I pondered days ago, I watched a video of how a stockfish (okporoko jabajaba) seller was seen using the popular Sniper insecticide to preserve stockfish at Oyingbo market in Lagos. As the lady that caught him on video lamented and asked the aboki why, he responded 'No any fish wey dey for Nigeria wey dem no put this medicine.' Really?

Sniper insecticide belongs to the DDVP chemical family (dichlorvos) and is adjudged by many as being potent in killing cockroaches and other insects. It has also become the handiest chemical used by suicide victims in Nigeria to terminate their lives. Yet, the aboki says 'No any fish wey dey for Nigeria wey dem no put this medicine.' Chai!! Oh God, there is death in the pot.

I have watched videos of fruit sellers washing the fruits in open sewer drains (gutter). Another video showed a petty trader sprinkling a detergent solution to hydrate his tigernuts before tying them in small packs for sale and consumption. An unsuspecting buyer will buy these contaminated fruits and nuts, not realising that 'there is death in the pot.' God abeg o!

We've focused on death from guns (bandits and BH) and death in the air (Covid), but we've been silent on 'death in the pot' that is causing all manner of diseases including cancer in Nigeria.

Who will deliver Nigerians from this death in the pot? Now I am scared of mama-put and party food. Should we stop eating food that we know not the source of the ingredients? Should I start subsistence farming to harvest the food I will eat or should I just port from Nigeria? Whatever the answer, I join my voice to that of the sons of the prophet in 2nd Kings 4:40 'And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.'

Please join hands to kill the ignorance and not Nigerians.

#safefoodfornigerians

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 11 September 2021

MAN AND NICKNAMES

 


I was thinking this morning.... as I listened to Pst E.A Adeboye give his sermon last Sunday at the dedication of Rev Esther Ajayi's new church in Lagos, I went down memory lane thinking about the multiple nicknames or aliases I have been known by since birth.

For most people, your dominant nickname depends on the phase of life you are in. After I was born, my parents gave me the Itsekiri name Oritseweyimi meaning 'God's got my back.' But as a baby, I am sure many called me 'bomboy' because that was the name Warri people called every male child.

As I grew up and ready to begin school, it became obvious that I wasn't as tall as my mates. That immediately gave me another nickname as adults started calling me 'ete' (short man) or smallie. Though I found this alias quite annoying, there was nothing I could do. The alias stuck through primary school until I got into secondary school. As my academic brilliance shone, a new nickname emerged. For some reason, my parents and uncles chose a profession for me and started calling me doctor. Depending on who is doing the calling, one might wonder if the aim was to see me become of medical doctor, academic doctor or native doctor. Lol...

Finally, I got into the University and for the first time, had the opportunity to influence what my nickname will be. It was after we did Botany 204 in our second year that we had to give ourselves scientific names. Having been intrigued by such names as Mangifera indica (Mango) and Bamboosa aridinarifolia (Bamboo), I chose 'Weyimiliscus Kpoliae' birthing my alias for the next 20 years. Friends and those that knew me from university started and still call me 'Kpoliae' which was derived from my family name, Kpoli. Others called me Wemo.

As time went by, I joined the corporate world, began writing and became an author. I upgraded my alias to be 21st century compliant and was now to be simply called Wey Mey.

As I started a family and became a leader in church, I was now being called by new names. While my children call me daddy, in church circles, they call me pastor or bishop and sometimes 'daddy.'

Fact is, when you are young, people call you by what they think of you. When you are of age, you determine what you should be called but as you get older, people will call you by the impact you make on their lives. The difference between 'Baba-agba' and 'Baba-agbaya' is impact. Which would you rather be in your latter years? Are you making the right impact, because whether you like it or not, people will call you a name. No wonder Jesus asked in Mark 8:27 ' Who do people say that I am?'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 4 September 2021

NAIJA HIRED ASSASSINS

 


I was thinking this morning.... Nigerian clergyman and actor, Mike Bamiloye, of the Ishawuru fame, has posed a humorous question that got people talking days ago. The 61 years old founder of Mount Zion Movies and Faith Ministries, had written on his Instagram page 'You dressed seductively to church, you dressed to kill. You danced suggestively to praise and worship songs. You danced to kill. You tag yourself 'Slayqueen' in the house of God. Are you a HIRED ASSASSIN?' My answer is yes, they are Spiritual Hired Assassins.

As I mused, I realised that there are many other hired assassins around us. So many uneducated entertainers and yahoo boys have been pushing the narrative that 'school na scam.' This was made worse, when we see scarcely educated touts becoming politicians and ending up being members of the state and national assembly or even holding other critical executive positions. What kind of message are we passing to the younger generation?Situating it with the Slayqueens, these people are 'Educational Hired Assassins.'

I visited the hospital last week. While waiting to be seen, a car drove in with a patient breathing with the aid of a cylinder of oxygen. He obviously had Covid-19 and was being prepared for ICU. I understand  that treatment of Covid-19 patients in private hospitals in Port-Harcourt cost about N3m while in Lagos it costs between N5m to N10m. Yet, the Government allowed the resident doctors and health workers to go on strike (10th time in 6 years) at the peak of the Covid-19 third wave. How else do you describe our leaders if not as Public Health Hired Asassins?

On Thursday, the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) presented a 61-page report stating that over 27 million Nigerians earn less than N100,000 per annum (i.e $0.5 per day). When they pointed at budget fraud, procurement fraud, embezzlement of funds among other illegal actions, as being responsible, I nodded and said 'Economic Hired Assassins.'

It is obvious that we are a society of hired assassins with our actions and inactions resulting in the death of people all around us. One big mistake the government is making is focusing on the fight against the 'religious Boko Haram' in the North-West  while ignoring the silent hired assassins and circular Boko Haram all around the country. Mathew 18:7 says 'For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!' My question to you is 'Are you a HIRED ASSASSIN?'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 28 August 2021

EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

I was thinking this morning.... As I stepped out of my compound last Thursday, I immediately met my neighbour with her dog out for convenience break. I got close to them and said 'good morning ma.' Suddenly, the dog barked and charged at me. I froze even as my neighbour shut him up. I smiled and facing the dog, I asked, 'don't you want me to greet your madam?' As I walked away, I wondered why this bingo was so protective of its madam. Later that day, I found out that Thursday 26th August was International Dog Day, set aside to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives.


Why would anyone even think of showering his or her love on a dog rather than a human? In understanding why, I discovered that a dog is so reliable in keeping humans safe working for the emergency services and supporting people who are blind, deaf, or disabled, yet we have humans working as security guards who will connive with robbers to rob their host and nurses and caregivers who will abuse and maltreat their patients.

There are dogs that protect our safety and freedom by detecting drugs and bombs, as well as those that pull victims from wreckages and tragic situations, yet there are people entrusted to fight evil that became the evil, by conniving with terrorists to bomb and harm innocent citizens. Oh what sort of humans are these?

There are many stories of people that have been backstabbed by someone they trusted. Someone they loved and gave their all. Humans have proven time and again that they can't be trusted. Many have been seriously hurt by their spouse, some by someone they call 'my bestie' or brother. Others still by someone they invited into their homes.

Having been badly burnt, many have withdrawn from society and decided to trust no man ever, while some have turned to having a pet they can love. It is a sad commentary that dogs are more loving and trust worthy that some humans.

I know there are many that can be trusted, the question is, are you a reliable friend or brother? Is the friendship of a dog more valuable than yours? Think about it. Proverbs 20:6 says 'Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey 

Saturday 21 August 2021

THE RACE FOR CORONATION

 


I was thinking this morning... As Itsekiri sons and daughters resident in Lagos gathered at the Skyline Hall of Oriental Hotel Lekki, yesterday the 21st day of August, in the 21st year of the 21st century to be part of the coronation of the 21st Olu of Warri, I made sure not to pass on this glorious opportunity to witness a major milestone in Itsekiri history and a time where all Itsekiris from far and near look forward to a celebration of our rich cultural heritage.

I settled for the gathering in Lagos because it was the next best thing to being live at the venue at Ode-Itsekiri, in Warri. Moreover, with the Delta variant still very much on rampage, I am a lot more comfortable in a controlled environment than a huge crowd that could potentially be a super-spreader.

As the coronation is being live streamed from Itsekiri-olu (the Itsekiri term for Big Warri or Ode-Itsekiri), we were treated, at Lekki, to scrumptious traditional food in a nostalgic setting with Itsekiri dance steps and an exhibition of the rich cultural heritage of the Itsekiri nation. As the revered crown was raised, I pictured how it has moved from Ginuwa to Irame, Erejuwa to Ikenwoli, and now being placed on the head of Omoba Utienyinoritsetsola Emiko.

Suddenly, I was transfixed and the Hall transmogrified into a celestial realm where I saw in a flash that life is a race for coronation. By definition, a coronation is the act of placement or bestowal of a crown upon a monarch's head. 

Right from when you are born, you begin a race to your coronation either in this life or in the after-life. Some enjoy the double honour of being coronated both in this life (business and career) and in the hereafter, while only very few enjoy the triple honour of being coronated in their career, community and afterlife.

What determines whether you get the crown on earth is grace and diligence, but to get the crown of life you need endurance and love of God. Many chase, fight and kill over the earthly crown at the detriment of the heavenly. What an error.

James 1:12 says 'Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord had promised to them that love him.' Tsola Emiko has received his earthly crown and shown that he is working towards the heavenly, what about you? The race for coronation is on. Run wisely!

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey 

Saturday 14 August 2021

E GO REACH MY TURN

 


I was thinking this morning... I was leisurely browsing social media on Friday evening when I stumbled on the tweet by DJ Cuppy. She had tweeted 'DuDu decided that 6 people from twitter will win N60,000 each to celebrate his birthday.' For those not familiar with DJ Cuppy, she is the musician and millionaire daughter of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola. Months ago, she acquired two pomeranian dogs as pets and named them DuDu and FunFun Otedola.

While I was still wondering how someone will give out N360k in celebration of the birthday of a dog, one fan of Cuppy wrote 'So, dogs don start to dey do give away and I never even see 50 naira dash pesin.' Some will call it excess cash but Warri man will say too much pepper.

At another level, the average oyinbo man when blessed will give to charity. But when the money is too much for a lifetime, then they look out of this world to spend it. Space travel made international headlines in July as both Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Virgin boss Richard Branson flew to space in crafts made by their own companies. Not to be outdone, Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to launch an all-civilian crew into orbit in September. Chai!! Space is now the playground for the super rich.

When I learnt that Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to begin regular commercial services to space in 2022, and already has 600 reservations at around $250,000 a ticket, I threw my hands in the air and prayed 'Oh Lord, bless me to overflow.'

Fact is, we all have money, the difference is in the volume. I am confident the Lord will bless me to overflow in this life, and have a fair idea of what I will do with the billions. The question is, when you pray to 'hammer', have you considered what you will do with the excess money? Close your street in celebration of the birthday of your dog, fly to space for $250,000 or just 'cubana' it for a burial ceremony? Whatever you choose to do is your prerogative.

I believe Genesis 12:2 that says 'And I will bless thee and thou shalt be a blessing.' Therefore, without doubt, I know my turn go soon reach. But when you are blessed to overflow, do not disappoint the God that gave you the power to get wealth.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 7 August 2021

LIFE IS NOT PS4

 


I was thinking this morning.... Last Tuesday, in my usual effervescent manner, I had responded to an email aimed at driving improvement in one of our processes. What I didn't realise was that I had slighted a colleague and friend by the mail. He responded very robustly without betraying his emotions. When I called him to discuss, I understood his anger and he saw that my response was in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands. We laughed and thanked each other for not allowing the email exchange to become an ego trip.

As we conversed, we wondered how people struggle and fight about earthly things and in the process hurt themselves. Have you considered why there is an epidemic of high blood pressure? Have you wondered why there are so many incidents of sudden death? What we call 'uku gbain gbain' in Itsekiri.

Within the last two weeks, I heard very shocking cases of sudden death that got me thinking and made me calm down. Two weeks ago, a pastor in Port-Harcourt while preaching in back-to-back services collapsed during the third service and died shortly after. Last week someone I know quite well was sitting with his family in church while the service was going on and passed on, while everyone thought he was sleeping. Days ago, another person I know slept and passed on without any major medical issue.

What exactly is going on? In my musing, I realised that for many around the world, living has become very difficult considering the stressors people face daily. Tough economy, Covid impact and other general problems are sources of stress and affecting their mental health.

Nigerians face even bigger challenges with failed governance and 'village people' adding to the wahala. For Port-Harcourt residents, it is double jeopardy because even breathing has become a huge problem. The danger of Coronavirus in the air is child's play compared to the black soot from 'kpofire.'

The challenges life throw at you today is enough to stress you out, so don't add to it by your actions or inactions. Wish no man evil. Be at peace with all men (Rom 12:18). Like an old song from my childhood says;

Jeje o, my friend o. No rush life o, you hear
Jeje o, my friend o. Take am coolee o.

Please take it easy. Don't stress over little things. Scale back on the adrenaline rush. Know your body and when to rest. Live life, rest and don't die. Life is not PlayStation (PS4) where you can replay.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 31 July 2021

WASTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLYMPICS GOLD

 


I was thinking this morning.... As fireworks lit up the sky over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, on July 23, 2021, I imagined that this must be the weirdest Olympics in history for two reasons. First, we are having the 2020 Olympics in 2021. Secondly, rather than being called the Tokyo olympics, many refer to it as the Covid Olympics, because it will largely be without fans due to Covid restrictions.

As the ceremony went underway, I was confident of a medal haul for Nigeria at the end of the games. My hope wasn't hinged on the recent performances of our male basketball team 'D'Tigers' neither was it on Long jumper Ese Brume nor wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye who have been in excellent form going into the Olympics, but rather it was on the little mentioned recently acquired talents of Nigerians.

First, many Nigerians have recently taken to shooting as a passion, killing thousands of Nigerians in the process. With hours spent shooting, I was confident we will win the gold medal at the Olympics shooting event. 'Usai! Where were the bandits, kidnappers, BH militants and separatists when China's Yang Qian won the first gold of 10m air rifle final? Alas, Nigeria didn't even enter for that event. What a waste.

As I watched the swimming event kick off, I looked out for Nigerians from Niger Delta and saw none. With most of our riverine communities being submerged by waters from overflowing rivers, I expected that we should have mastered the art of living under water or as a minimum be amphibians, but no, we were not in swimming. Where was Nigeria when the 18yr old Tunisian Ahmed Hafnaoui won the Men's 400m freestyle? Nowhere. I reasoned that I may be watching the wrong event, Nigerians must be competing in rowing, canoeing or kayaking because that has been the major means of escaping the flooding in Lagos mainland and Lekki in recent years. Again, I was disappointed. Yet another glorious opportunity to win gold at the Covid Olympics lost.

As I switched the channel to weightlifting, I looked out for Nigerians but there were none because, as I later understood, our athletes failed to meet the qualifying standard. Wow! How is that possible? As a minimum, we should have fought for the creation of the 25kg, 50kg, 75kg and 100kg weightlifting category for male and female politicians. That would've been 8 cheap gold medals for Nigeria because our politicians have long toned their muscles carrying ghana-must-go filled with stolen money. Oh, what an opportunity missed.

As the Olympics round up in a week, so far our contigents are, like Peter in Acts 3:6, saying 'Silver and gold, I have none.' I understand because they gave their best for Nigeria and for that I say kudos. But for the human, economic and political bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria, don't waste that talent on evil, use it for good. Let your talent win us gold otherwise kill the evil.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Sunday 25 July 2021

THAT 'E WO LO KAN MI' ATTITUDE

 


I was thinking this morning..... As I did my daily morning walk during the week, I noticed a water pipeline leakage within the estate that has caused flooding on the major road. 'Is this not the same leakage I reported weeks ago?' I imagined. Yes it is. Why has no one, particularly those living next to the leakage, taken the initiative to attend to this minor challenge that will cost so little to fix? Again, I called the Exco chairman's attention and he promised to do something. As I walked away, I wondered where Nigerians got this 'E wo lo kan mi' (meaning 'not my concern' in yoruba) attitude from. 


As my legs moved forward, my mind did the reverse, reminding me of how my cousin took his sick daughter to a Community Health Centre in Warri, and noticed that everyone was in darkness because the only power generator has been down for over two weeks. Why? They were waiting for government. He called a generator technician to fix the problem and was shocked when told that the bill was N1,500. Yes, you heard me right. N1,500. The whole community suffered for over two weeks, because everyone was waiting for the government to provide N1,500. What a shame. Ahh!!! That 'E wo lo kan mi' attitude. 


Look around you and you will see the 'E wo lo kan mi' attitude. When the Punch Newspaper reported that the major Nigeria Police tracking device acquired in 2015 to go after kidnappers, bandits and terrorists is down and out since the beginning of 2021 because they have not paid the yearly subscription, I need not ask why and how because I know it is because of the 'E wo lo kan mi' attitude. When a small pothole formed on the Lekki-Epe expressway some weeks back and no one paid attention until it grew and started causing a three hours traffic, we all suffered and cursed the government but no one thought to do something. You know why? The 'E wo lo kan mi' attitude. 


The 34th US President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953 to 1961) had said 'A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.' It seems like we've all lost our principles and waiting to enjoy privileges we don't deserve. Everyone is waiting on somebody to do what anyone could do. At the end nobody is doing anything. We must remove and burn that cloak of 'E wo lo kan mi' which we wear like a winter coat and begin to take more interest in fixing what directly affects us rather than wait for government or someone else. James 4:17 'Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.' It's true, whether you say 'E wo lo kan mi' or not. 


Stay hopeful. God's got your back. 


Happy Sunday. 


......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

Saturday 17 July 2021

THE POLICE IS YOUR FRIEND

 


I was thinking this morning..... Anyone and everyone that has anything to do with social media in Nigeria would agree that the trending news this weekend was the burial ceremony of the mother of Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana at Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The event which was attended by businessmen, politicians, musicians and actors, was an occasion for the lavish and obscene display of wealth. One person no one expected to be at such an occasion where state laws were freely broken, was a well known Deputy Commissioner of Police and main man of the IG of Police.

On Saturday the officer had to give reasons why he attended the burial. In a Facebook post, he had said "Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana is one of the most hardworking entrepreneurs and humble personalities that I have known for many years. He is a brother and a good friend." I smiled when I read that statement and remembered Inspector Osadolor in the popular DSTV soap, ENAKHE. Inspector Osadolor is a corrupt police officer on the payroll of the drug barons and will not miss an opportunity to remind his benefactors that the police is your friend.

Of course the police will be your friend when bundles and wads of cash were hauled and 'sprayed' at people with reckless abandon. It is easy for the police to be your friend when over 246 cows were slaughtered for your mother's burial and you are gifting someone a cognac worth N4.7 million.

The Police is your friend. I wish. In 1998 the police stopped me while driving along Okumagba Avenue in Warri and observed that my registration paper had expired days earlier. In spite of my plea for mercy, the officer looked me in the face and insisted on seizing the N5,000 I had packaged to pay my tithe. How I wish he had smiled at me and said 'the Police is your friend' and let me go.

When the police embark on arbitrary arrests, extort money at checkpoints, turn a case against a complainant or even carry out extra-judicial killings, oh I wish, they can truly say 'the police is your friend.' A friend is one that loves at all times (Prov 17:17) but it seems the police are friends to the rich alone. There is God o!

The question is, are you a true friend or are you like Inspector Osadolor that is killing you and yet says 'the police is your friend.'

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey